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HD Pictures
One of the biggest advantages of the Blu-ray format is that movies are authored in the 1080p format, which means the video is stored on disc as complete frames (as opposed to interlaced fields) with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. But most Blu-ray movies are also encoded at 24 frames-per-second, which is the frame rate at which film is shot and shown at the cinema, allowing you to see the movie as the filmmakers intended.

In order to view these 1080/24p pictures, you'll need to hook up the player to your display's HDMI input. This input doesn't have to be v1.3, but in order to view the 1080p, 24fps format (often referred to as 1080/24p) in its native form, you need a display that not only sports a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 but also one that can handle a 24fps video signal.

When playing a 1080/24p film on a regular 50Hz or 60Hz display, the signal has to be converted either by the player or the display to make sure the frame rates match. This conversion process can result in a juddering effect that for many people - film purists in particular - can really spoil their enjoyment of the movie.

However, many of the latest generation LCDs, plasmas and projectors come equipped with special modes that accept a pure 1080/24p signal and display them without judder. For instance, the latest sets from Toshiba and LG use a 120Hz mode, whereby each of the 24 frames is displayed five times in 1/24 of a second (known as 5:5 pulldown). This fits neatly into the TV's 120Hz refresh rate, and because the frames are displayed on screen for the same amount of time there's no visible judder.

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